**A short note before you read this article: This is NOT a sponsored commercial article. I found this software from a security forum. I’ve tested it and found it really useful. Then I emailed and requested them if they would be able to provide a free license to one of my readers and they agreed.**

testThere are different types of security technologies to protect your computer. Antivirus is a software that examines files to look for known viruses matching definitions in a virus dictionary. Then there’s firewall, a device which is configured to permit, deny, or proxy data through a computer network. I discovered Sandbox few months ago which allows you to run untrusted programs in a virtual container. That’s why there are bulky all-in-one security products such as Norton Internet Security, McAfee Internet Security Suite, Trend Micro Internet Security Pro and etc, which can tremendously slow down a computer.

Today I am going to write about another type security software which has slight similar technology as Sandbox technology. Sandbox lets you run files suspicious files in a virtual container but this security software virtualize the whole windows system or the whole hard drive. So no matter what you do on the virtualize system, everything will be restored back to the original state after a restart.

Currently this security application is being used by nearly 4 million people in over 50 countries. You MUST check out this powerful security software!

PowerShadow is a revolutionary preventive approach to computer integrity protection.
PowerShadow Virtual Disk
You can use PowerShadow to virtualize your whole hard drive or C drive only into a disposable session. Computer equipped with this virtualized hard drive is just the same as your original one WITHOUT performance loss. You can do anything you like on this computer, but everything you do is completely isolated from the original hard disk. End this session with a reboot and all modifications on virtualized hard drive will be gone. Your hard disk will return to the very intact status.

Everything you do while in PowerShadow mode is actually being done, not by your operating system, but by a clone of the operating system. Therefore, when you exit PowerShadow mode, everything (except what you save to a non-system drive) will vanish. Likewise, if a virus attacks, it attacks the clone system; If spyware is installed, it is installed on the clone system only; If you delete a file, you have only deleted the clone file, leaving the original untouched. Absolute security and privacy in one elegant software solution.

It is REALLY easy to use PowerShadow. The only important thing you need to understand is:
1. There are 2 types of Shadow modes. Single or Full shadow mode. Single mode will only shadow the system partition. System partition means if your Windows is located at C: drive, the whole C: drive will be cloned but your other drives won’t be cloned.
What is Single Shadow Mode

As for full shadow mode, it will shadow all your hard drives. Got it?
What is Full Shadow Mode

2. There are pros and cons to both of the shadow mode. Single shadow mode allows you to save/create files to other non-system partition. After a reboot, the file will still be there. So it is convenient. As for full shadow mode, no matter where you save/create a file, it will be removed once you restart your computer. The solution is to save your data in a USB flash drive or external hard drive. Other than saving the data in external portable drives, you can also burn it to disc.

Switching from normal mode to shadow mode is fast and easy. You can either select “Single shadow mode for microsoft windows xp professional” or “full shadow mode for microsoft windows xp professional” during computer startup.
How to start shadow mode
Another way to start shadow mode when you’re in normal mode is run the PowerShadow Master icon from Desktop/Start Menu/Quick Launch and click the big Start button.

To quit Shadow Mode, you can run PowerShadow Master and click the big QUIT button or restart your computer or right click on the PowerShadow tray icon and select “Quit Shadow Mode“.
How to quit shadow mode
Do take note that your computer must be restarted or shut down in order to quit shadow mode. It’s a little troublesome and how I wish it is possible to just switch back to normal mode without rebooting. Perhaps the next version will support quitting shadow mode on the fly?

I am really impressed with PowerShadow’s technology. At first I thought PowerShadow will most probably make an image or snapshot of my current system. Then when I quit from shadow mode, it will restore my system to the original state from the image. So I did a test to see if I was right. Before I install PowerShadow, my hard disk shows 119GB free space. After installing PowerShadow, it is still 119GB free space. When I am in shadow mode, my hard disk also reports 119GB of free space.

I did a test on my Windows XP. I started single shadow mode, tried copying some files and folders to my desktop and also I purposely infect myself with a virus. I then quit Shadow Mode and restarted my computer. When Windows has finished loading, I noticed that the files and folders that I copied to my desktop is gone! I couldn’t even find the virus on my computer too. Next, I decided to do something more extreme.

**WARNING! PLEASE DO NOT PERFORM THIS COMMAND IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME MEETING WITH POWERSHADOW’S CONCEPT!**

I started single shadow mode and ran the command “RD /s /q c:” to delete everything on my C: drive. When the command completed, I right click on my C: drive, select properties and it shows 2.88MB used space! I then restart my computer, and Windows booted just fine. I right click on C: drive again, select properties and this time it shows 2.97GB. Looks like everything is restored after a restart…

Remember, prevention is better than cure. Traditional anti-virus software is able to remove infected files but most of the time will not restore what the virus did to your Windows(such as disabling registry, task manager and etc). PowerShadow is a proven protection strategy for both computer beginners or experts. Most basic thing to know is don’t run any software that you don’t know. If you have to, run it in Powershadow.

Unfortunately PowerShadow is NOT freeware. It cost US$39 for a single personal license and you’ll be entitled to free upgrade for future versions. It’s not an expensive price to pay for such a powerful software to protect your computer. It can be used in cybercafes, libraries, school, corporate companies, even home computer.

I have 2 good news for all of you… First one is PowerShadow is kind enough to offer me a FREE license and I’ll be giving it away. To get the FREE PowerShadow license, download PowerShadow, install it, launch PowerShadow, click on the Startup Menu and be the first person to tell me what is the default seconds for “Definite Startup Menu Waiting Time“.

Don’t despair if you didn’t get the free license. PowerShadow is kind enough to offer Raymond.CC readers discount coupon which you can purchase PowerShadow Family License (Up to 3 users in the same household) for only $39. Just follow the simple steps below to get this incredible offer.

1. Go to PowerShadow order page.

2. Click the Buy Now button for “PowerShadow 2.6 Family License”.
PowerShadow serial number

3. Enter your credit card information and click the Agree and Continue button.

4. At the next page, you get to enter the coupon Raymond.CC-EA7126. Refer to the screenshot below.
FREE PowerShadow discount coupon

And by the way, this offer won’t be valid forever. It expires on 30th of November 2007 (end of this month).

[ PowerShadow Website | Download PowerShadow ]

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